Percutaneous management of bile-plug syndrome: a case report

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Gastroenterology
• Interventional Radiology
• Neonatal Surgery

Background:

• Bile-plug syndrome is an obstruction of the common bile duct by bile sludge in infants.
• It is a treatable cause of obstructive jaundice in neonates and infants.
• Surgical intervention is the traditional treatment for bile-plug syndrome.

Observation:

• A 5-month-old infant presented with symptoms of bile-plug syndrome.
• The infant's condition involved obstruction of the common bile duct due to bile sludge.
• This case highlights a specific instance of the syndrome in a young child.

Findings:

• Percutaneous biliary interventions were successfully employed to treat the infant's bile-plug syndrome.
• This represents the first reported instance of percutaneous treatment for bile-plug syndrome in an infant.
• The minimally invasive procedure effectively resolved the bile duct obstruction.

Implications:

• Percutaneous biliary interventions may serve as a viable, less invasive alternative to surgery for infants with bile-plug syndrome.
• This approach could potentially reduce recovery times and complications associated with traditional surgical methods.
• Further research into percutaneous techniques for pediatric bile duct obstruction is warranted.